Ministry of Panchayati Raj
Phenomenal Response to Call for Online Applications from Gram Panchayats for National Panchayat Awards—2023
More than 2.5 lakh  Gram Panchayats have applied so far; last date extended till November 20, 2022
Awards will be given under 9 Localization of Sustainable Development Goals  themes
The National Panchayat Awards under different categories are conferred annually by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to acknowledge and incentivize the best performing Panchayats across the country. For the Award Year 2023, online nominations for the revamped National Panchayat Awards were invited upto 15th November, 2022. Buoyed by the enthusiastic participation of Gram Panchayats in online application process to the extent of 90.89% approx. as on 15th November, 2022, Ministry of Panchayati Raj decided to extend the last date for online questionnaire filling till 20th November, 2022 to maximize the participation of Gram Panchayats in the online application process.
As a result of consistent and rigorous follow-up from Ministry of Panchayati Raj and handholding support provided to States/UTs, the participation under National Panchayat Awards–2023 has been unprecedented from Gram Panchayats to the extent of 91.33% approx.  out of total 2,68,711 Gram Panchayats across the country as on 18th November, 2022. The remaining Gram Panchayats may like to apply/ freeze the saved responses at link: https://panchayataward.gov.in
An appeal from Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Shri Giriraj Singh to all Sarpanches/ Gram Pradhans/ Mukhiyas and other elected representatives of Gram Panchayats has received an overwhelming and enthusiastic participation from the Gram Panchayats across the country. It is worth mentioning that the Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Shri Giriraj Singh reached out to all Sarpanches/ Gram Pradhans of the country through a letter dated 1st September, 2022 requesting them to participate in the online application process for National Panchayat Awards–2023.
Revamped National Panchayat Awards plays a pivotal role for creating awareness regarding Sustainable Development Goals among Panchayats and setting a pace for localization and achievement of these goals. From the year 2023, these awards will be given under 9 Localization of Sustainable Development Goals  themes aggregating 17 SDGs.
This year’s online application process was distinctive in many ways as it helped creating wider awareness about the localization of Sustainable Development Goals and motivated all the Gram Panchayats to make coordinated and combined efforts towards achieving a set thematic goal. A broad objective behind awarding and incentivizing Panchayats is that there should be healthy competition among all Panchayats and all Panchayati Raj Institutions should move forward towards all-round and sustainable development of villages by following the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas”. It is the endeavour of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to continuously encouraging other Panchayats to emulate the best practices of Panchayats doing exceptionally excellent work.
Taking forward the vision of the Prime Minister of making India a self-reliant nation, the concerted efforts of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to incentivize Panchayats based on their exemplary performance in nine thematic areas of LSDGs will supplement and accelerate progress towards achieving LSDGs targets for creation of self-reliant Panchayats to meet the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
The participation of maximum Gram Panchayats across the country in the online application process has established the fact that the Gram Panchayats are committed and determined to contribute to the inclusive growth and holistic development of the nation by achieving the Sustainable Development Goals subsumed under nine themes in a local perspective at the grassroots level fulfilling the dreams and aspirations of rural India.
Background
India is a signatory of Sustainable Development Goals  2030, and India's commitment to the SDGs is reflected in Localisation of SDGs  in rural areas, which are subsumed under broad nine themes of LSDGs to achieve the targets at the grassroots level across the country.
Every year, on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day i.e. on 24th April, Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been awarding the best performing Panchayats/ States/ UTs across the country under the Incentivization of Panchayats in recognition of their good work for improving delivery of services and public goods. This year, the format, procedures and categories of the National Panchayat Awards have comprehensively been revised to establish a multi-level competition aligning with the nine themes of LSDGs. This will help in accelerating the pace of achievement of goals pertaining to nine LSDGs in rural areas. Detailed information regarding the revamped awards system has been made available at dedicated portal: https://panchayataward.gov.in. The refurbished and user-friendly portal of National Panchayat Awards was made live on 10th September, 2022 for all Panchayats to make online entries for awards/ rankings under different categories of National Panchayat Awards.